With 6 different villages to choose from you are sure to find plenty to keep the children entertained in La Plagne. Obviously the main activities in winter are skiing and snowboarding and there are a number of ski schools who offer kids' lessons and may also arrange child-minding, pick-up services, and other activities. On top of skiing, many of the other winter pursuits such as snowshoeing and tobogganing are also suitable for children and great fun for the whole family.
Arapaho Scooters
Hire an off-road scooter with big fat mountain bike tyres that has been specifically designed for downhill riding. You can hire the scooters (helmet and gloves provided) in Champagny and freewheel down practically any path; grassy, stony, etc...
This activity is available for anyone over the age of 10 years old and is great fun for all the family to enjoy.
Adrenalin Factor : 6/10 (increasing to 9/10 if you manage to stray away from the course and accidently end up on the bmx bike course - not recommended!)
Arbre Aventure
Swing through the trees high above the mountains on a circuit of zip lines, monkey bridges , ladders and ropes. You can travel through the forest without touching the floor, safely strapped into a harness and attached to a secure safety line. These eco-friendly adventure parks are created around the trees without damaging them in any way and can be dismantled if necessary, leaving the forest as though untouched. Both adults and children can enjoy this activity with different circuits for different ages and abilities.
There are 'arbre aventure' parks at Belle Plagne, Aime Villette and Champagny.
Canyoning
A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day! You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course.
Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.
Hydrospeed is an alternative to rafting where you shoot down the river on a kind of inflatable body-board. Half-in half-out of the water you are closer to the action and guaranteed a soaking!
Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons.
There are a number of local companies that offer guided descents down the nearby Doron and Isère waterways.
Children's Entertainments
La Plagne offers a number of organised entertainments for children throughout the summer. Highlights include: the circus school at Montchavin Les Coches; the Club des Champions, where children can take part in games such as mini-golf, trampolining and mini-moto; painting classes. For festivals and other entertainments enquire at the Tourist Office for details or check our What’s On Calendar to see what is happening when.
Farm & Crafts
Donkeys, goats, chickens and other alpine animals await you at the mini farm in Montalbert. Here you can take a tour of the farm, ride a pony or learn about the traditional methods of making alpine cheese.
Horse Riding
There are two riding centres in the La Plagne area, one at Aime la Plagne and the other at Plagne Centre. Between them they offer a range of activities such as family rides, children’s lessons, half-day treks and more. Reservation is advised and children will need parental permission before they take part.
Husky Sledding (traineaux a chiens)
Go husky sledding (‘traineaux a chiens’) with Mathias at Plagne Montalbert. Be in charge of your own sled and team of excitable husky dogs, driving them along forest paths. After a brief explanation of how to make your team stop and start (you shout "mush!"), and strict instructions not to let go of the sled if it turns over (the dogs would disappear for hours...), you set off following the guide’s team. Your huskies want to keep up with their doggy mates, so the next hour is a breathless scramble to keep the sled upright, trying to control the speed downhill, and hanging on for dear life when you tear around corners. Going uphill you have to help push the sled, so this is hard physical work.
If this all sounds a bit much you can opt for a less physical outing where you sit in the sled and the guide does all the hard work! Either way it is an exhilarating experience – you can find contact details on our Action, Fun & Sports page.
Ice Skating
La Plagne has two natural open-air ice rinks situated in Aime la Plagne and Plagne Bellecôte. Both rinks offer children’s/beginners sessions and regularly host ice hockey tournaments and ice dance galas.
Every Thursday night throughout the winter the ice rink at Plagne Bellecôte holds ice karting events. For €20 you can race around the rink for 10 minutes, providing you stand more than 1.40m tall. Discounts are available for groups of 6 people or more.
For addresses and contact details please see here.
Mini-Golf
For budding golfers over the age of 4 years, La Plagne has 3 mini-golf courses with obstacles and challenges to test your skill. Located at Plagne Centre, Plagne Bellecôte and Montalbert; entry costs around €5 for an adult and €3.50 for a child.
Paragliding ('Parapente')
Paragliding is a truly amazing experience and what better place to try it than in the stunning surroundings of La Plagne.
There are a number of paragliding schools in the area that offer tandem flights, where you take to the skies accompanied by an instructor. Taking off is easy, you simply run (in summer) or point your skis/snowboard (in winter) downhill and as you gain speed the parachute lifts you into the air. Whilst this may seem a little scary, once you are in the air the views and tranquility combine into a truly amazing feeling. The instructor will control where you go, aiming to catch thermals which will keep you airborne for longer. When you are coming back to earth, the landing is also very gentle and no more of an impact than jumping off a step.
... see "La Plagne for Paragliding" for more
Strap lightweight plastic snowshoes to your feet, and walk effortlessly through deep snow. If you haven't tried it before and don't want to go it alone the majority of ski schools and some independent instructors offer a range of snow shoe or ‘raquette a neige’ outings. Join a group led by a knowledgeable local guide and explore the hidden parts of the valley. The must-do expedition for keen walkers is the ‘Hors Trace en Tarentaise’ (Off the Beaten Track in Tarentaise). This is a three-day accompanied trek through the untracked snow and untouched corners of the Tarentaise backcountry. Along the way the guides will share their knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the mountains.
For a less extreme experience there are also a number of themed 2 hour or half-day outings on which you will leave the beaten track to follow animal footprints, discover mountain flora and fauna and learn the history of the valley.
Further down the valley in Peisey-Nancroix, you will find the Nordic Centre, situated on the vast plateau at the entrance of the Vanoise National Park. This beautiful setting also has paths for walkers, snowshoe trails and toboggan routes or you could try your hand at cross country skiing. The countryside here is totally unspoilt and home to plenty of exciting wildlife such as ibex, chamois, golden eagles and bearded vultures!
This is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions, or for non-skiers. Snowshoes and ski poles are provided on most guided outings; if you are heading out independently you can hire the equipment from most sport shops.
There are so many things for kids to do in La Plagne throughout the summer that sometimes the only way to make the most of it is to enrol them in a summer club! La Plagne offers a variety of clubs, split by age so that all children will find a range of activities to keep them busy.
In Plagne Bellecôte there are 3 clubs; the Mini Club, the Youth Club and the Juniors/Teens Club, for children from 3 to 17 years old. Activities include pony rides, hiking, trampolines, roller skating, circus skills, quad biking, paint ball and more (activities are organised according to age).
Belle Plagne has a Youth Club for 3 to 10 year olds and a Junior Youth Club for 11 to 15 year olds that offer a similar range of sports and activities.
Tennis & Squash
You'll find 10 tennis courts throughout the various villages of La Plagne; you can reserve them at any of the many information points in the resort. Lessons can also be booked for adults, children over 7 years and children from 4 to 6 years old.
Indoor tennis can be played in the sports hall at the Salle Omnisport in Plagne Centre, as can badminton.
For those of you who like to build up a good sweat there are squash courts in Plagne 1800. Open each evening from 5pm, entry costs 5€ and includes balls and rackets.
Trampolines
Work off that fondu on the trampolines at Plagne Bellecôte, Plagne Centre and Montalbert. Suitable for both children over 4 years and adults this is something everyone can have a go at!
Via Ferrata
If climbing up sheer rock on the end of a piece of rope sounds a bit scary then Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb. Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8; guides can be arranged on request. There are 2 main Via Ferrata routes in La Plagne; Plan du Bouc and Grosses Pierres. Plan du Bouc is in Champagny le Haut and features 2 courses, 1 intermediate and 1 difficult. Grosses Pierres is in Champagny en Bas and is a more challenging and physical route.
If you haven't experienced this before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! La Plagne has a number of trained guides who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a 3 hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint.
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